Turbo-alternator generator



H. T. ADKINS Nov. 17, 1964 TURBO-ALTERNATOR GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1961 Nov. 17, 1964 l H. T. ADKlNs TURBO-ALTERNATOR GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3l. 1961 ATTORNEY;

United States Patent O 3,157,793 TURBG-ALTERNATR GENERATR Harold T. Adidas, St. Clair Shores, Mich., assigner to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Utica, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed .Iuy 31, 1961i, Ser. lilo. 125,991 2 Claims. (Ci. Mii-52) This invention relates to alternator-generator devices in general and more particularly to a turbo-alternator construction having the turbine and alternator assemblies in combination.

Heretofore, turbines have been used as simply another drive power source for operating electrical power generators. The turbine has been entirely separate from the generator and has been operative of the generator through a separate drive shaft connection.

It is an object of this invention to provide a turbine and alternator in combination for greater simplicity of construction, achieving a more compact assembly, and attainment of a more efficient operative structure.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to teach the combination of an inductor type generator and a Tesla type turbine.

My copending application S.N. 41,412 titled High Speed Generator discloses an alternator-generator having the stator and rotor members constructed of laminated magnetic discs which are conductive of magnetic tlux. The alternator-generator disclosed by such application is of the inductor type whereby all field and power wind- 9 ings are provided on the stator and no windings are required to be disposed on the rotor. It is proposed to make use of this construction in having the laminated magnetic discs which form the rotor separated in parallel spaced relation in the manner of the rotor of the Telsa type turbine. The duid tiow between the plain surfaced and parallel spaced rotor discs induces rotation of the rotor as the uid circulates in an inward spiral and transfers its velocity to the discs by surface friction.

In addition to the advantage of size, weight, and cost saving due to the multiple function of parts, other advantages include the minimization. of normal bearing and seal problems, the elimination of vibration and fatigue normal in vane turbo-generator designs using partial or segmental entry, the transfer of any generator heat loss into heating the turbine working gas and incidental cooling due to large tiuid or gas ilow and the attainment of an extremely compact alternator set.

In the arrangement proposed, by extracting power electro-magnetically from the periphery of the turbine a large output shaft is not necessary and the area for exhaust near the center may be increased. Further, since no torque is transmitted by a spoke arrangement at the center of the turbine disc stresses are reduced and there is more exhaust area. The stitfening effect at low speeds due to the radial forces on the disc also allows thin, closely spaced discs to be used and increases the turbine etliciency.

These and other advantages will be more fully appreciated upon a reading of the following specication in regard to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a cut-away perspective view of a gas turbine generator set consisting of a single outlet centrifugal compressor, combustor and Tesla turbine-alternator combination structure.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the turbinealternator shown by FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross sectional side plan view through a turbine-alternator unit per se.

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FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the turboalternator section shown by FIGURE 3 as seen in the plane of line 4 4 thereon.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of an alternator showing the flux path for one rotational position of the rotor member.

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of an alternator, similar to FIGURE 5, showing the liux path with the alternator in an advanced pole position.

FIGURE 7 shows the alternator, stator and rotor disc construction in an exploded view.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2:

The turbo-alternator lil is shown to include a cornpressor housing 12, a combustor housing 14 and turboalternator housing 16 which are interconnected for fluid tlow passage therebetween. The compressor housing 12 is formed to include a central inlet 18 and has a centrifugal compressor member Ztl rotatably supported therein. Upon rotation of the compressor rotor 2t) air is inducted through the inlet 18 and passed by the compresser blades to the toroidal outlet passage 22 communicating with the combustor housing 14.

rl`he combustor housing 14 is shown as simply providing a toroidal passage 24 between the compressor housing 12 and the turbo-alternator housing 16. However, it will be appreciated that a combustible mixture is introduced or formed within the combustor housing and is ignited by means not shown.

The exhaust gases `from the combustor housing 14 are received peripherally within the turbo-alternator housing 16. The housing 16 has a peripheral inlet 30 and a central outlet opening 32. A rotor member 34 is provided within the housing and is supported on a shaft 36 which is rotatably supported within bearings 38 and Ztl provided in the side walls of the compressor and turbo-alternator housings 12 and 16 respectively. The rotor 34 is of the Tesla type which will subsequently be described.

The turbo-alternator 1li@ shown by FIGURES 3 and 4 is basically similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 2 except for the different housing structure 116. A tangential inlet passage 131i introduces the rotor driving uid into the housing and it is exhausted through centrally disposed outlet passages 132 provided on both sides thereof. The rotor shaft 136 is journalled in bearings 138 and 14o within the housing side walls.

Since the stator assembly 42 and combination turbine and alternator rotor assembly 34 is essentially the same in both of the turbo-alternators 10 and lili) the same reference numerals have been used to identify common parts and subcombinations in the subsequent description.

A stator assembly 42 is provided circumferentially about the turbine rotor 34. The stator 42 is made up of a plurality of permeable discs 46 which are conductive of magnetic ux and are oriented in parallel spaced relation by nozzle discs 48 disposed therebetween.

ri`he general configuration and orientation of the stator and nozzle discs, 46 and 48, are best shown by reference to FIGURES 3 and 7. The stator discs 46 are annular and are formed to include pole pieces S0 about their inner periphery. The pole pieces Sti are equally spaced and are each formed to include a pair of pole faces 52. The pole pieces Sti are separated by winding slots 54. Within the winding slots 54 are alternately disposed field windings 55 and power windings 5S.

The nozzle discs 48 between the stator discs 46, are complementary of the stator discs 46 and inclusive of pole ieces Sil', pole faces 52 and winding slots 54. As will be appreciated the pole pieces, faces and winding slots of the stator and nozzle discs are axially aligned in the assembled construction. The nozzle discs 4 may be 3 held in place by the field and power windings 56 and 58 which are disposed within the winding slots 54- and Sdof ythe respective members. However, as will be appreciated, other tie bolt means et, such as shown in PEG- UREZ, may be used.

Inlet nozzles ett are provided within the nozzle discs 4S through one .or more of the pole pieces 5h. T he inlet nozzles 6e enable the turbine gases from the cornbustor housingV 14 to pass through the stator assembly 42 and into engagement with the turbine rotor 34.'

The turbine rotor 34 is of the Tesla type, as previously mentioned.` The rotor includes a plurality of plane surfaced discs 62 which are mounted on the rotor shaft and are retained in such parallel relation by Vspacers 6d. The rotor disc 62 receives turbine gases vtherebetween and the gases How in a naturalspiral inwardly while the adhesive and viscous action thereof impart energy movement to the rotor. As the velocity of the turbine gases drops, the fluid has less centrifugal force and is pushed radially inward. The discs are provided with fluid ow outlet openings 66 centrally thereof.'

The rotor' discs 62 are further formed to include magnetic poles 68 equally spaced about the outer periphery thereof. These rotor poles 6? are formed and spaced to alternately complement-the `stator pole faces 52 of the stator discs, las shown by FIGURE 3. l Accordingly, the rotor 34' serves both as the rotor forthe turbine and the alternator and makes'use of the stator assembly 42 within the turbine casing in itslatter capacity.

ltiwill be noted that the stator discs 48 through which the inlet nozzlesreil are provided are smaller in width than the full annular stator discs d6." This provides flow passages '70 for turbine gases to a secondary entry nozzle on the other side of the first one.

The number of inlet tlow nozzles, spacing of the rotor and stator dises, size of the inlet and outlet openings etc; may be adapted to fit different operating conditions in accord with well known principles of Tesla turbine construction.

The held and power windings 56 and 5% are preferably skein-loop windings'which pass in opposite direction through alternate of the winding slots 54 and 54 within the stator discs'. As will be appreciated, the connecting loops of the field and power windings may be provided on opposite sides of the stator assembly to avoid crossing.

The arrangement of field and power windings within the stator assembly ft2 is best appreciated by showing the power windings S as toroidal windings. Accordingly, such an arrangement is used Vin FIGURES 5 and 6. Regardless of whether the power windings are loop skein or toroidal windings the alternate flux paths will be the same.

Referring to FIGURE 5, with' the rotor 34 inthe position and its poles 63 aligned with the pole faces SZ of alternate of the pole pieces Si) of the stator, the flux path is as shown by the closed loop arrowed lines. It will be appreciated that such a ux path induces a current a reverse flow in the current direction. As a consequence a high frequency alternating current is produced' in thev power windings 53 by the high speed rotation of the rotor 3ft- Within the stator assembly 42.

Further reference should be had to my copending application SN. 41,412 titled High Speed Generatork for a more detailed description and understanding of the alternator-generator per se.

It will be appreciated that the magnetic laminated discs which conduct the flux to and from various stator points also serve as the drive turbine discs of a partial or segmental entry turbine operating by surface friction. In addition to the advantage of size,`weight and cost due to the multiple functioning of parts, the normal bearing and field problems areminirnized. Further, the problem of vibration and fatigue normal in vaned turbo-generator designs using partial or segmental entry is eliminated. Although the iron and windings of the proposed generator must operate at turbine fluid or gas temperature, high temperature iron and insulation are available and preclude any serious disadvantage in this` regard.

There are numerous advantages in extracting the power Y i they may be 'stamped from dat rolled sheets in a manner ow in the different legs of the power windings 5S, which are within alternate of the Winding slots 54, which is additive.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, with the rotor 34 advanced one pole distance the rotor poles 68 come into alignment with the Vpole faces 52 of the alternate pole pieces 5t) of the stator; that is, those with which the rotor pole faces were not previously aligned. The different alignment of the stator and rotor poles causes a change in the flux path as shown by the closed loop arrowed lines in FTGURE 6. As will be appreciated, this causes similar to electrical rotor laminations.

Although a preferred embodiment ot this invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated that certain modifications and improvements are within the scope of this disclosure. Such of these modifications and improvements as are not specically excluded by the language of the hereinafter claims are to be considered as inclusive thereunder.

Y I claim:

l. The combination of a fluid driven turbine and an electrical power generator, comprising: a turbine housing having a generator' stator provided therein, a turbine rotor mounted concentrically within said stator, said turbine rotor including a plurality of axially spaced parallel discs receptive of rotor drivingv fluid flow therebetween, means provided through said stator and axially through said rotor discs near the center thereof for rotor driving fluid flow through said housing, said stator and rotor being of magnetic laminar construction and having peripherally adjacent edges thereof formed to include alternately aligned and misaligned pole faces conductive of magnetic iiux therebetween, said stator being provided by a plurality of parallel and axially aligned annular discs, and alternate of the latter discsV being formed to provide nozzle means for the passage of rotor driving tiuid flow therethrough;

2. The turbine and generator combination of claim 1 wherein said alternate stator discs are of a lesser outer diameter than'the othersthereof and provide a fluid flow passage with said turbine housing conductive of rotor driving liuid flow to different nozzle means.

lleferencesCited in the tile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A FLUID DRIVEN TURBINE AND AN ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATOR, COMPRISING: A TURBINE HOUSING HAVING A GENERATOR STATOR PROVIDED THEREIN, A TURBINE ROTOR MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY WITHIN SAID STATOR, SAID TURBINE ROTOR INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED PARALLEL DISCS RECEPTIVE OF ROTOR DRIVING FLUID FLOW THEREBETWEEN, MEANS PROVIDED THROUGH SAID STATOR AND AXIALLY THROUGH SAID ROTOR DISCS NEAR THE CNTER THEREOF FOR ROTOR DRIVING FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID HOUSING, SAID STATOR AND ROTOR BEING OF MAGNETIC LAMINAR CONSTRUCTION AND HAVING PERIPHERALLY ADJACENT EDGES THEREOF FORMED TO INCLUDE ALTERNATELY ALIGNED AND MISALIGNED POLE FACES CONDUCTIVE OF MAGNETIC FLUX THEREBETWEEN, SAID STATOR BEING PROVIDED 